Wanted sex: women's desire vs societal norms

Wanted sex or “good” sex is a concept that has never attracted the concern of many programmers, researchers and policy makers. Majority of interventions seeking to address sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRH & R) have often focused on the consequences of what is considered as “bad” sex such as unplanned pregnancies and HIV among others. The tendency to stress problems related to sexuality pose a risk to reinforcing negative stereotypes to sexuality across generations.

Young Men as Equal Partners (YMEP) programme in Kenya has been partnering with young men for gender oriented Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in an intervention targeting young men (10-24 years) in and out of School. This paper reflects on the benefits to young women from this ongoing intervention.

The Author recognizes the need for a comprehensive gender oriented sexuality education approach that identifies the centrality of sexuality in addressing SRH & R concerns. It underscores the underlying idea that men have absolute power in sex and express authority to make all decisions while women are just recipient and submissive to male authority as a notion that has been perpetuated by societal norms. The paper therefore seeks to open dialogue in understanding women plight in regard to sexuality within a male dominated (patriarchal) society.